puttyroot

[puht-ee-root, -roo t]

noun

an American orchid, Aplectrum hyemale, having a slender naked rootstock that produces a leafless stalk with a loose cluster of yellowish-brown flowers.

Origin of puttyroot

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; putty¹ + root¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019